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          How it happened: The United States wins the Ryder Cup

          • Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior WriterSep 26, 2021, 04:09 PM ET
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            • Senior college football writer
            • Author of seven books on college football
            • Graduate of the University of Georgia
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          SHEBOYGAN, Wis. -- The United States came into the final day of the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits with a big lead over Europe. Still, there was work to be done. Even with a six-point lead, the U.S. needed to get to at least 14.5 points.

          It did -- and then some.

          Here is how the Americans took back the Cup:

          SCORE: UNITED STATES 19, EUROPE 9

          United States needed 14.5 points to win the Cup

          Rory McIlroy def. Xander Schauffele 3 and 2

          How it happened: After struggling mightily over the first two days, McIlroy finally found his form when the Ryder Cup outcome had all but been decided. After going 0-3 on Friday and Saturday -- and failing to card a single birdie (with one eagle) in 30 holes in two four-ball matches -- McIlroy birdied the first two holes against Schauffele. McIlroy's lead stretched to 3 up after Schauffele's bogeys on Nos. 4 and 11. After another birdie on the 14th, McIlroy pumped his fist and shouted. It might have been display of emotion we saw from the Northern Irishman all weekend. In television interviews afterward, McIlroy broke down in tears and said he wished he'd done more to help the Europeans.

          Patrick Cantlay def. Shane Lowry 4 and 2

          How it happened: Cantlay, who has clearly become the best player in the world without a major championship, might very well be the favorite to win the Masters in April given his play over the past several months. On Sunday, he took down Lowry, the 2019 Open Championship winner, rather easily. Cantlay birdied three of the first six holes to take a 3-up lead. Lowry trimmed the deficit to just one with birdies on Nos. 10 and 12. But then Cantlay ran off three straight birdies on Nos. 14-16 to close out the match.

          Scottie Scheffler def. Jon Rahm 4 and 3

          How it happened: In what will probably be regarded as the biggest upset of the day, Scheffler stunned Rahm, the No. 1 player in the world -- and the match wasn't even close. Scheffler, 25, hasn't yet won a PGA Tour event and was the lowest-ranked player on the U.S. team at No. 21 in the world. Rahm had been a juggernaut the first two days while compiling a 3-0-1 record. He was no match for Scheffler on Sunday. The former Texas star had birdies on five of the first six holes and was 4 up after only four holes. Scheffler constantly kept pressure on Rahm and made few mistakes. It was a great week for Scheffler, a Ryder Cup rookie. As a bonus, the Americans found someone who is comfortable playing with Bryson DeChambeau.

          Bryson DeChambeau def. Sergio Garcia 3 and 2

          How it happened: DeChambeau set the tone for the match on his very first tee shot. He became the first player at this Ryder Cup to drive the green on the 373-yard first hole. He walked off the tee box carrying his putter. To top it off, he drained a 41-foot putt for eagle. DeChambeau was 2 up after Garcia picked up his second bogey on the fourth hole. He stretched the lead to 3 up when he made a 10-footer for birdie on the par-4 ninth. Garcia, Europe's all-time points leader, got as close as 2 down twice, but never closer than that. It was Garcia's first loss in singles since 2008. It was a very solid week for DeChambeau. After going 0-3 in Paris three years ago, he picked up his first points in a Ryder Cup with a 2-0-1 record. He really seemed to enjoy playing in front of fans who were rooting for him.

          Collin Morikawa tied Viktor Hovland

          How it happened: Already a two-time major champion, Morikawa looked right at home as a Ryder Cup rookie, too. His birdie putt on the par-3 17th hole guaranteed him at least a half-point and clinched the match for the Americans. He ended up tying the match with Hovland after a bogey on No. 18. With a 3-0-1 mark in his debut, Morikawa and Cantlay are among only five American rookies to win at least three matches without a defeat in a single Ryder Cup. The others were Patrick Reed in 2014, Phil Mickelson in 1995 and Chip Beck in 1989. Hovland, a future star for the Europeans, went 0-3-2 at Whistling Straits.

          Dustin Johnson def. Paul Casey 1 up

          How it happened: Johnson, the oldest player on the U.S. team at 37, was its biggest star this week. By defeating Casey, he became the fourth American and only the fifth player overall to have a perfect 5-0-0 record in a single Ryder Cup, joining the United States' Gardner Dickinson (1967), Arnold Palmer (1967) and Larry Nelson (1979), and Italy's Francesco Molinari (2018). Johnson's match with Casey was tied after seven holes, but he led by at least one the rest of the way. DJ had eight birdies on Sunday (one more than he had in two combined four-ball matches), including three straight on Nos. 14-16. Casey fell to 0-4-1 this week.

          Brooks Koepka def. Bernd Wiesberger 2 and 1

          How it happened: The questions about Koepka's commitment to the Ryder Cup can be put to rest after he went 2-2-0 this week. He wasn't completely on top of his game after injuring his left wrist when his club hit a root at the Tour Championship at East Lake earlier this month, but he played well enough to earn two points. His match with Wiesberger, the first Austrian to compete in the Ryder Cup, was tied after 15 holes. But then Koepka birdied the next two holes to win. On the par-3 17th, Koepka's tee shot landed a foot from the hole, essentially closing it out.

          Ian Poulter def. Tony Finau 3 and 2

          How it happened: It's no surprise that Poulter, the heart and soul of the European team, went down fighting. The Englishman won his final match in what might have been his last Ryder Cup as a player. A small silver lining for the Europeans is that Poulter preserved his unbeaten record in singles at 6-0-1. His match with Finau was tied after the front nine, but then Poulter opened the back with three consecutive birdies to go 3 up. Finau cut it to two with a birdie on the 13th, but he wasn't able to get any closer. It's probably not the last time the Americans will see Poulter. There's speculation that he'll be an assistant captain in Rome in 2023 and captain at Bethpage Black in 2025.

          Justin Thomas def. Tyrrell Hatton 4 and 3

          How it happened: It was probably a difficult week emotionally for Thomas. He arrived at Whistling Straits without his father, Mike, who is also his swing coach. Mike Thomas was unable to travel to Wisconsin because of a blood clot in his lung. After going 1-1-1 in matches on Friday and Saturday, JT made easy work of Hatton. He had birdies on four of the first eight holes to take a 3-up lead. A Hatton bogey on No. 9 put him 4 down at the turn. Thomas closed out the match with seven straight pars. After going 4-1 in Paris, Thomas has already earned six points in just two Ryder Cup appearances.

          Lee Westwood def. Harris English 1 up

          How it happened: Westwood, 48, won his final match in what was undoubtedly his last Ryder Cup as a player. His match with English was back and forth on the front nine before English pulled ahead by two following Westwood's bogey on the 14th. But then the Englishman won three of the last four holes, including the 18th, where English hit his second shot into the water in front of the green. English conceded the match, giving the Europeans their third victory of the day. In 11 appearances, Westwood has now won 21 matches and amassed 24 points, which ties Bernhard Langer for third-most among European players.

          Jordan Spieth tied Tommy Fleetwood

          How it happened: The only thing left for Spieth's comeback to be complete is winning another major. After struggling for nearly four years, he finally won again this past season at the Valero Texas Open and was third at the Masters and solo runner-up at The Open. He didn't play too badly at Whistling Straits while compiling a 1-2-1 record. His putter did let him down at times on Friday and Saturday. Spieth still hasn't won a singles match in the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup. He's a combined 0-6-1. He was 2 up on Fleetwood after six holes, but it went back and forth on the final nine holes and ended in a tie. Spieth had six birdies; Fleetwood had five.

          Daniel Berger def. Matt Fitzpatrick 1 up

          How it happened: The anchor match was close between Berger, an American rookie, and Fitzpatrick, who was playing in his second Ryder Cup. It wasn't decided until Fitzpatrick hit his second shot on No. 18 into the water and ended up with a double bogey. Berger, one of the better irons players on tour, went 2-1-0 in his debut. Unfortunately for Fitzpatrick, he became the fifth man to appear in multiple Ryder Cups and fail to earn a point. He is now 0-5 in two appearances. The other four represented Great Britain and Ireland before European countries were added in 1979: Tom Haliburton (1961-63), John Panton (1951-53, 1961), Alfred Padgham (1933-37) and Arthur Lacey (1933 and 1937).